‘Animals.’ The officer pointed to the screen. Below them was the shack, and around the back, several pens and small shelters.

‘He’s got animals? Why on earth . . . ?’ Jackman said.

Marie suddenly twigged. ‘That’s how he got the boy there! Wildlife conservation. Look!’

The pictures were incredibly clear. So much so that they could identify a fox in one of the pens.

‘Where’s the humans? That’s what I need to see.’ Jackman looked closer.

‘Here, sir,’ the operator said. ‘In that structure with the netting front. Looks like an aviary. That’s one of them. The other is in the hut. Both are moving about independently, neither restricted in any way. It’s a considerably smaller person in the aviary, so that’ll be your boy.’

‘Then get your drone out of there, Officer, right now.’ Jackman whispered to Marie, ‘If Spiller is inside, then he might not have seen it. We have one chance at this, but we must move fast.’ He raised his voice just enough to be heard by the waiting officers. ‘Ready, everyone. Go! Go! Go!’

Marie’s mind emptied of all other thoughts but their goal. She moved forward, a step behind Jackman. Their plan was to leave the shelter of the car park using the lane and rush the shack in a pincer formation, surrounding it. If Jordan and Davy weren’t together, so much the better, but they couldn’t guarantee it.

As it turned out, their plan came to nothing.

They rounded the bank and ran towards the ancient shack — and heard the roar of an engine. A powerful 4x4 cannoned away on to the farm track that led to End Point. Jordan must have heard the drone! For a moment they were left standing, helpless. Then Marie tugged on Jackman’s arm. ‘The Stinger! Check it’s in place. I’m going after him.’ Already running back to where she had left Tiger, she yelled out over her shoulder, ‘Remember what Andy said? Jordan wanted to die with his boy! Davy is his substitute son! He’s going to drive them both off End Point!’

She leaped into the saddle and roared off, causing a number of startled police officers to jump into the shrubs. Jordan believed his son had died alone, and his mind just couldn’t handle it. He was going to try to make it right with Teddy and die along with his boy. Poor little Davy! An innocent who happened to end up at the centre of Jordan’s twisted nightmare fantasy. She opened the throttle.

The track was grim to say the least, riddled with potholes and deep, water-filled grooves from numerous massive tractor tyres. It was a challenge, even to a rider as experienced as Marie.